Rotary switch



Dec. 8, 1931.- E. RATNER ROTARY SWITCH Filed May 24, 1928 INVENTOR [7145 'fidzfier ATTORNEY i Patented Dec. 8, 1931 iELIAS RATNER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW

LEVITON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., OF BROOKLYN,

PORATION OF NEW YORK Application filed May 24,

- a rent consuming devices where compactness of the switch is essential.

The switches heretofore available for this purpose have generally employed a body of insulating material for supporting the fixed and movable contacts. According to the present invention, however, the entire switch is made up of parts easily made in quantities in automatic machines and capable of ready assembly with the minimum use of special 16 tools.

A practical embodiment of the invention which will be described, consists of a number of stamped parts both metal and insu-v lated material, so designed that they fit together and may be assembled readily so-that the switch is one that may be manufactured without the use of expensive molded and insulated parts.

An object of the present invention is to provide a switch for these purposes .of such design be stamped from suitable sheet metal and insulating material. 5

A furtherobjectof the invention is to provide a switch wherein the parts and lead wlres are effectively insulated from the metal casing by inexpensive, easily assembled parts.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the invention, 'one of the many possible embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are. illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the various parts included in the present embodiment o the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the completed switch Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, parts being in elevation;

Figure 4 is a developed view of the insulating hner; 1 f

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a portion of the switch, partly assembled; and

that substantially all the parts may TED STATES PATENT, OFFICE YORK, AssrenoR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

new YORK, 4 con- ROTARY swrron 1928. Serial No. 280,130.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the fixed contact member.

The switch to be described herein in detail is one which is made up to a large extent from stamped parts. It has a metal inclosmg casing or housing in which is housed the fixed and-movable contacts and insulating parts to effectively insulate the switch.

The casing of the present form of switch takes the form of a stamped housin 10 which, as here shown, is a comparatively small rectangular stamping having a bottom 11, side walls, 12 and 13 and end walls 14 and 1 5. The end walls 14 and 15 have slots or nptches 17 and 18 to accommodate lead wires while the side walls 12 and 13 each have pairs ofprongsor projections 19 and 20.

A liner 21 of insulating sheet material is made of the proper size to fit inside the stamping 10. As shown in Figure 4 the blank for this stamping has a central rectangular portion 22, end flaps 23 and 24and side flaps 25 and 26. When these parts are bent to the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, it will be noted that the ends 27 of the side flaps 25 and 26 have been folded so as to be inside the end "flaps 23 and 24. The end flaps 23 and 24 are provided with notches or cut outs 28 located similar to the notches 17 and 18 in the metal stamping, but somewhat smaller than these notches. In making up the liner, the blank is cut and scored and bent to shape after which it may be forced into the stamping 10 by a plunger in a press so as to firmly seat in place the liner in the stampin It will be noted that the overlapping at t e corners will provide a very effective insulation for the parts to be inclosedin the liner.

A rectangular sheet 29 is cut of the proper size to fit inside the liner 21. Near the corners of this insulating sheet two metal pins 30 and 31 are provided as anchorages for the fixed contacts.- The fixed contacts may be identical and each of them consists of a stamped spring member 32 shown more in detail in Figure 6. This stamping is notched as indicated at 33 to receive a stranded lead wire L. The insulation is removed from the end of a length of wire and the stranded metal wire passed of insulating material through the notch 33 and inside the-contact member and soldered as indicated at 34. The

insulated lead wire L extends along the side of the contact member as indicated in Figures 1 and 5 and is bent sharply as here shown, so as to pass out through the notches in the liner and metal stamping when the contact member is placed over or about the adjacent metal pins 30 or 31. As the notches 28 are narrower than thenotches 17 and 1 8, the insulation on the lead wires is efiective- 1y kept away from the metal edge. The form of movable contact employed in the present switch is here shown as a stamping 36which fits on an insulating ratchet wheel 37.

After the fixed contacts and leads have been inserted into position in the housing, the ratchet wheel and the movable contact are then passed down between the spring contacts so as to force them apart and. place them undertension. An insulating sheet 38 shaped similar to the insulating sheet 39 is then placed above the fixed and movable contacts.

This sheet 38 has 'a central aperture to per-.

mit a square operating shaft 40 to pass through and cooperate with a square hole 41 in the upper surface of the ratchet wheel '37. The upper end of the operating shaft 40 is threaded as indicated at 42. It is carried inside a threaded nipple 43 permanently fastened to a cover stamping 44. An operating shaft 40, cover member 44, nipple 43 and nut 45 are then assembled as a unit and placed on top of the other parts so that the prongs 19 and 20 pass through the notches 46 and 47 in the cover member 44. The prongs 19 and 20 are then bent over into the position indicated in Figure'2 thereby holding all the parts together. 7

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the switch is one which can be very easily assembled and one in which all the current carrying parts are elfectively and securely insulated from the metal casing. There is little.

likelihood of breakage as there are no fragile parts. The lead in wires are, on account of the construction shown securely anchored in the switch. Any stra' ut on these wires will be effectively resisted y the shape of the contact and its anchorage about the anchored parts.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions, and I wish it to be understood that'the particular form shown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch comprising a metal stamping having a bottom, side and end walls, the end walls having wire receiving slots, a liner of insulating material fitting inside the metal stamping and having wire receiving slots, a sheet of insulating matecarrier, and a cover rial resting on the liner and carrying upwardly extending posts, spring contact members engaging the posts, lead wires attached to the contact members and passing out through the slots in the liner and stamping, a ratchet shaped contact carrier placed between the contact members, a second insulating sheet covering the contacts and carrier, an operating shaft for-the contact carrier, and a cover fastened to the stamping, the shaft extending out through the second insulating sheet and the cover.

2. An electric switch comprising a metal stamping having a bottom, side and end walls, the end Walls having wire receiving slots, a liner in the form ofa sheet of insulating material formed to fit against the sides and bottom of the stamping and having wire receiving slots,afiat sheet of insulating material resting on the bottom of the liner and engaging the sides of the liner, upwardly extending posts carried by the flat sheet, spring contact members engaging the posts, lead wires attached to the contact members and passing out through the slotsin the liner and stamping, a ratchet shaped contact carrier placed between the contact members, a second insulating sheet covering the contacts and carrier, an operating shaft for the contact fastened to the stamping, the shaft extending out through the second insulating sheet and the cover.

3. An electric switch comprising a metal stamping having a bottom side and end walls, the end walls having wire receiving slots, a liner in the form of a sheet of insulating material fitting inside the metal stamping, said liner having overlapping flaps at the corners and wire receiving slots, a sheet of insulating material resting on the liner and carrying upwardly extending posts, spring contact members engaging the posts, lead wires attached to the contact members and passing out through the slots in the liner and stamping, and a ratchet shaped contact carrier placed between the contact members.

4. An electric switch comprising a metal stamping having a bottom, side and end walls, the end walls having wire receiving slots, a linerof insulating materialv fitting inside the metal stamping and having wire receiving slots, a sheet of insulating material resting on the liner and carrying upwardly extending posts, spring contact members en-.

shaft for the con- 1 between the contact members, a

v a metallic enolosin aasaeia stamping, the shaft extending out through the second insulating sheet and the cover.

5. An electric switch comprising a sheet metal stamping having a bottom, and side and end walls, a metal cover permanently fastened to the stamping and carrying an externally threaded metal bushing, a liner in the form of a sheet of insulating material shaped to fit insideithe stamping, and cooperative switch parts interposed between the liner and cover.

6. An electric switch comprising a sheet metal stamping having a bottom and side and end walls, a metal cover permanently fastened to the stamping and carrying an externally threaded metal bushing, a liner in the form of a sheet of insulating material shaped to fit inside the stamping, an insulating sheet underneath the cover, cooperative switch parts interposed between the liner and sheet and a switch operating shaft extending throu h the insulating sheet and cover.

7. 11 electric switch comprising a sheet metal stamping having a bottom and side and end walls, a metal cover permanently fastened to the stamping, a liner in the form of a sheet of insulating material shaped to fit inside the stamping, and cooperative switch parts interposed between the liner and cover, the liner and end walls of the stamping having wire receiving slots into which the lead wires for the switch may be inserted before the cover is fastened in place.

8. An electric switch comprising a ratchet shaped contact carrier, insulating sheets above and below the contact carrier, spring contacts between the sheets, one of the sheets having anchor posts for the spring contacts,

a metallic enclosing casing, an insulating liner inside the casing, and lead wires extending through the casing and liner and connected to the spring contacts.

9. An electric switch comprising a ratchet shaped contact carrier, insulating sheets above. and below the contact carrier, ring contacts between the sheets, one of the s eets having anchor posts for the spring contacts, casing, an insulating liner insidethe casing, the spring contacts being spaced from the casing walls, and lead wires extending through the casing and liner and connected to the spring contacts, the wires being bent about the contacts to pass through said space.

10. In a switch, in combination, a casing in the form of a metal stamping having a bottom, and side and end walls, and a 1min in the form of a folded blank of insulating s eet material, the blank having flaps to assure complete insulation at the corners of the casing. i

11. In a switch, in combination, a casing in the form of a metal stamping having a bottom, and side and end walls, and a lining in the form of a folded blank of insulating sheet material, the blank having flaps to assure complete insulation at the corners of the casing, the stamping and lining having wire receiving notches, the notches in the lining being narrower than those in the stamping to keep the wires away from the metal of the stamping.

12. A liner for switch casings comprising a blank of insulating sheet material having end and side flaps carried b a central portion, the ends of the side aps being long enough to extend inside the end flaps when these flaps are bent into position at right angles to the central portion.

ELIAS RATNER. 

